Pony Tales - August 2013

The World of Mustangs

December 13, 2013

Shelby Widebody Kit

If you’ve been drooling over Shelby American’s GT 500 Super Snake Wide Body (see “On the Wide Side” in the April Pony Tales), you’ll be pleased to learn that Shelby’s Widebody kit is now available from Shelby Performance Parts, as seen here on a ’07 Shelby GT.

According to Shelby Performance Parts Vice President Jer Gervasi, “The Shelby Widebody Kit, as seen on our candy red Super Snake at the North American International Auto Show, resulted in so many requests from Shelby and Mustang owners that we immediately went to work developing a package to meet the demand. Now customers can have a Shelby Widebody Kit for their ride without shipping the car to our Las Vegas facilities.”

The kit for ’05-’09 Mustangs and Shelbys is available in two versions. The complete package includes rear quarter-panels that add six inches of fender to house up to 13-inch rear wheels, as well as the front panels that allow for 10-inch front wheels. The Shelby Widebody Kit is also available in a rear-only option. Both packages include a Shelby billet fuel door, installation instructions, special tools, and hardware for installation. Note that the kit requires substantial body and paint work; a professional body shop is recommended for installation.

The rear-only package starts at $3,399, while the four panel kit goes for $5,999, not including wheels and tires. The same packages for ’10-’14 models will be available by summer.

The complete package includes rear quarter-panels that add six inches of fender to house up to 13-inch rear wheels, as well as the front panels that allow for 10-inch front wheels.

Pony Chairs

This is one of the coolest products we’ve seen in a while. Hot Rod Chairs is offering a desk chair in the style of the ’65-’66 Mustang Deluxe bucket seat, perhaps better known as the “Pony Interior” seat. The base is all metal with five rubber-wheeled casters (non-marking) and the tilting seat is adjustable for height. Priced around $450, the Pony office chairs are available in OE Mustang colors. Better yet, Hot Rod Chairs is planning a second Mustang office chair based on the high-back ’69-’70 Mach 1 bucket seats. Contact Hot Rod Chairs for ordering information at 830/522-5728 or info@hotrodchairs.com. Visit the website at www.hotrodchairs.com.

Mobile Mod Center

MRT and Gateway Classic Mustang have joined forces to create the Mobile Mod Center, a “performance center on wheels” to offer Mustang owners the opportunity to have their rides customized while attending their favorite shows and events. By calling 248/939-7954, enthusiasts can select the products they need and have them delivered on the Mobile Mod Center for a guaranteed installation appointment to have the products installed by experts. Products are available from a wide range of manufacturers, including MRT exhaust and styling products, Kicker Performance Audio, Ford Racing, BF Goodrich, Webasto sun roofs, ACE Racing Clutches, SCT Performance Tuning, Black Magic, and Gateway Classic Mustang suspension components. The Mobile Mod Center will be on hand at the following summer events:

Event, Location, and Date

Mustang Week | Myrtle Beach, SC | July 15-21

Motorsports Challenge | Gingerman Raceway, MI | July 25-27

South Lake Tahoe Experience | South Tahoe, CA | August 2-4

Hot August Nights | Reno, NV | August 6-11

Mustang Memories | Dearborn, MI | August 11

Woodward Cruise Kickoff | Plymouth, MI | August 16

Woodward Dream Cruise | Ferndale, MI | August 17

Blacktop Nationals | Wichita, KS | August 23-25

Sturgis Mustang Rally | Sturgis, SD | August 28-Sept. 1

Run Thru the Hills | Pigeon Forge, TN| September 13-15

Toledo Mustang Show | Toledo, OH | September 16

One Millionth Mustang at Flat Rock

On April 17, exactly 49 years to the day after the Mustang’s introduction in 1964, Ford celebrated the assembly of the one millionth Mustang at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant. Mustang production moved from the Dearborn Assembly Plant, where Mustangs had been built since 1964, to what was originally known as the AutoAlliance International Assembly Plant in 2004. Raj Nair, Ford’s group vice president for global product development, rode off the line in a Ruby Red ’14 Mustang convertible with Ed Salna, material planning and logistics manager at the plant, riding shotgun.

Getting the Red Out

Last May, 31 bright red Mustangs from the Red Mustang Registry embarked on a journey to raise money for charity by taking a cruise to Dover International Speedway. The event, headlined as “Get The Red Out,” allowed RMR members from across the nation to meet and enjoy a private tour of the track, including the opportunity to drive their red Mustangs on the Monster Mile. The registry also videotaped the event to share the experience with members who were unable to attend. With the aid of Chris Guiton, a two-time Emmy Award winner for graphic design, the final product was compiled into a DVD with all sales being donated to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund.

If you own a red Mustang and would like to participate in the Red Mustang Registry, visit www.allredmustangs.com. —Daniel Ramey

Pony Trails at the Mickyard

Mustang Monthly is hosting a Pony Trails cruise during the Mustangs at the Mickyard MCA Grand National show on Labor Day weekend. On Friday morning, August 30, the cruise will depart from the Coronado Springs resort at Disney for a leisurely 50-mile cruise to Mt. Dora, a charming lakefront village that features antique shops and local restaurants. For gathering and departure times, check in at the MCA registration booth upon arrival. For more information about the Grand National, visit www.mustangsatthemickyard.com.

Countdown to the 50th

On April 16-20, 2014, the Mustang will celebrate its 50th anniversary with two simultaneous 50th Mustang Birthday Celebration events hosted by the Mustang Club of America and sponsored by Ford Motor Company. The east coast event will be held at Charlotte Motor Speedway, while west coasters will have their own show at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Related activities start two weeks earlier with Great American Pony Drives from various locations to Mustang, Oklahoma, for an official kick-off weekend followed by east-bound and west-bound cruises to the Mustang 50th Birthday events.

Over the coming months, we’ll keep readers abreast of the 50th anniversary happenings, adding updates as they become available. Also, the official website is now up and running at www.mustang50thbirthdaycelebration.com. Registration and scheduling information is being added as it becomes available.

News Desk

We recognize April 17, 1964, as the public introduction date for the Mustang, but did you know that the Rolling Stones’ first album, England’s Newest Hit Makers, debuted on the same day? Thanks to Rolling Stones fan and Original Owners Group coordinator Kathy Miller for that tid-bit of historical perspective.

We’re starting to narrow down the likely time and place for the reveal of the all-new 2015 Mustang. Sounds like it could happen at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on January 13-26, 2014, with an official on-sale date in August.

The Eastwood Company is celebrating its 35th anniversary with a new interactive website at www.eastwood.com which features how-to videos, a Shop Talk podcast hosted by Kevin Tetz, live-stream product demonstrations, and free technical articles.

Rumor: Ford is reclaiming the GT 350 name for a new model in 2015. We’re not sure if it’ll be a going-out-with-a-bang ’14 model or based on the new ’15 Mustang. Question is, What will happen with Shelby American’s GT 350?

With the Coyote 5.0-liter engine in new Mustangs, can a new Pro 5.0 drag racing class be far behind? Mark Luton from Modular Mustang Racing is setting the stage with a 2,000hp, low 7-second 5.0 Mustang for NMRA competition.

We’re hearing that Roush Performance has been contracted to build a limited number of Mustangs as performance rental cars for Hertz Penske.

A ’71 Mustang hardtop is the subject matter for the second episode of American Detours, an online TV show presented by American Collectors Insurance. You can watch it and other episodes at www.americandetourstv.com.

The Ford Mustang Facebook page has surpassed the five million fans mark, making it the first of Ford’s 33 nameplates to reach the milestone. According to digiday.com, 57 percent of the Mustang Facebook fans reside outside the U.S.

The Heartland Mustang Club is planning to celebrate the Mustang’s 50th anniversary in 2014 by staging their MustangFest car show on the flight deck of the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas. The event is scheduled for October 3-6, 2014. Visit www.americascar.com for more information.

A new book from CarTech, written by Joe Palazzolo, is dedicated to the rebuild and set-up for Ford 8.8- and 9-inch rear ends. The 144-page, softbound book is available for $24.95 at www.cartechbooks.com.

Eleven months before the big event, Mustangs Across America director Sam Haymart has announced that 200 Mustangs have already signed up to make the cross-country journey from Los Angles to Charlotte for the Mustang Club of America’s 50th Birthday Celebration.

Mustangs brought the big money at the Mecum’s Indianapolis Auction on May 14-19. The original 427-powered ’67 Shelby G.T. 500 Super Snake sold for $1.3 million, while one of the original Eleanor Mustangs from the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds crossed the blocks for a cool $1 million. MM